Hopeful Living

From distant Rome--in the midst of a busy ministry of his own--Peter felt the need to write to beleaguered believers in a region two seas away.  He easily could have left them in the care of another. Instead, he took the time to write them a letter.  That compassionate expression made all the difference in their lives.  Perhaps you know of individuals who are struggling through tough times who could use your encouragement......or maybe that person is you.  

Peter, probably better than anyone during his lifetime, understood discouragement.  When I consider how that rough-hewn Galilean went from failure to faithfulness through God's transforming grace, it gives me hope!  This is the message of I Peter.  Peter had a heart for the hurting and broken.  He had a ministry to the suffering.  Sincerity and truth, encouragement and exhortation--these things go hand in hand.  So we shouldn't be surprised that Peter wrote his first letter to hurting people on the brink of hopelessness.

Join us this Sunday at 9:15am as we begin a 5 week journey through I Peter.  A letter written to remind us of our hope in Jesus.  Designed to exhort us to hopeful living despite today's chaotic culture and crafted to provide us comfort in the midst of difficult circumstances.

At our 10:30am service we will continue to discuss what it looks like to live as a Christian in this Age of Outrage.  This week, we will be reminded of our role as ambassadors of the King.  When we take our eyes of the Gospel-mission of the local church, we risk fostering disunity, division, disagreement and ultimately outrage.

Finally, let me leave you with two important truths that I was reminded of this week.....

"When we begin to pray for the lost, we will begin to see the lost."

"Evangelism is simply joining a conversation the Holy Spirit is already having with someone."

See you Sunday!

Pastor Doug